[JSolorzanoArts]

CharacterFORGE 2D :: ROUND 020 :: Nutcracker
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And..check out the The Challenge RULES

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BRIEF: Design a hero-type character wearing a robotic or mechanical suit, The Nutcracker.

Character Types: Folklore, Mythical
Setting: Present Day Earth.
Race: Human
Challenge Limitations: This Nutcracker should be a homage to the Nutcracker from the plays. His robot suit can be ultra-modern, steam-punkish, or anything you want as long as it's mechanical in nature. His shirt or torso must be in red with gold buttons and lacings on the sleeves and chest area. At least half of the suit needs to be mechanical/robotic, but all of the suit may be mechanical if you wish. The character must be a 16 year old male (if showing his face with helmet off), any ethnic background.

There is a new kind of hero rising in a crime-infested metropolis called Snowflake City. He dresses up as a Nutcracker, and goes by the same name. The people of the city have come to look up to him to stand up against crime and corruption, in hopes of making their city a safer place again. There is also a new criminal mind terrorizing the streets at night and bringing the holiday spirits to an all-time low, and the police are powerless to stop this horrible menace. The criminal appears as a giant mouse, wearing a small royal crown. This so-called "Mouse King" has just one fatal weakness - he is susceptible to the power of the nut, rendering him powerless, and the Nutcracker has lots of them that he launches from the many nut-canons on his mechanical suit. Will the Nutcracker be able to defeat this Mouse King? Stay tuned! .....

OPTIONAL CHALLENGE:
If you wish, you may design any character from the Nutcracker play since there are so many and this is a world-popular play. **Only one character is allowed**
Wiki Reference: The Nutcracker



Image Source


Image Source

Reference:
Wikipedia - Nutcracker

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Deadline - December 2, (11:59PM Eastern: UTC/GMT -5 hours)
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The challenges on CharacterFORGE 2D, as well as in the other forums, are designed to help you grow as an artist and to improve your art skills. Sketches and WIPs are highly encouraged so we can all see your progress and provide useful and positive critiques. Have fun!

[Blindrat]

haha I love this. It's a cute idea I can picture this as a golden age comic.

[Knevil]

it says, that the character must be 16 years old.. so the face must be visible, right? thought about a helmet.. but well :S
funny challenge though!

[JSolorzanoArts]

@Knevil - Good point. I added to the challenge to show a 16 yr old kid if showing his face with helmet off. There is an optional addition too, any character from the play is now open for this challenge.

[tsad_delira]

nice! will try to join in this one as well.. but when is it due?

[JSolorzanoArts]

Thanks for catching that - November 22, in 2 weeks.

[blue327]

Great challenge! I'd always loved the Nutcracker story as a kid.

I wanna ask, do we need to include the Mouse King in the scene as well? Or we just have to draw the Nutcracker?

[Knevil]

@blue327 you may draw the nutcracker or the mouse king or any other character from the play... don't know if it's even allowed to draw nutcracker+mouse king since it says "only one character is allowed" :P

[JSolorzanoArts]

Hey guys, for this round, we are keeping it to just one character being designed. This is so the focus can be on the individual character and really get into showing what he (or she) looks likes and what their individual personality might be. However, you may add an optional scene or background if that will help set the tone of the character you choose.

[bemota]

I'm new here and didn't enter last character forge, or any for that matter, but I'll join this one... sounds fun...


Initial sketch, laying down the idea

EDIT:
One more detailed before going to bed:



EDIT2: Sorry, I don't have a working scanner.

[ProofPudding]

Here is the direction I am going in. I placed other characters just to help me figure out how the character would act.
Let me know what every one thinks.

[Starexai]

Originally Posted by ProofPudding

Here is the direction I am going in. I placed other characters just to help me figure out how the character would act.
Let me know what every one thinks.

ProofPudding: I'm enjoying your idea for the mega mechanical suit. It really
transforms the Nutcracker into a modern version of an actually 16 year old
gaining advantage by the mechanical structure. What a way to save the day !

[Grumbleputty]

Not too excited with the pose yet, but here's where I'm headed so far

[ProofPudding]

Starexai: Thank you, I hope I can get it done on time.

I am just flushing out the ideas for the suite. Keep the critiques coming.

[blue327]

Here are my sketches. Not too much details yet, just an initial idea.

I'm going for a steampunk-ish approach. I tried to make my character kind of a cunning and cheeky teenager. I made his suit lighter for good functionality, since he would have to go on secret missions and need to be swift and mobile.

Will be working on a more detailed sketch and thumbnails soon.